Knitting machine



01mm. 249 M5@ R. PEBERDY KNITTING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheeil 2 Filed Jan. 2].,A 1948 atented Jan. 24, 1950 KNITTING MACHINE Roland Peberdy, Leicester, England, assigner to The Bentley Engineering Company Limited,

Leicester, England Application January 21, 1948, Serial No. 3,632 In Great Britain January 24, 1947 (Cl. (i6- 111) 16 Claims.

This invention concerns latch needle knitting machines and latch-retarding mechanism therefor. In plain knitting it is usual for the latches of the needles to be closed by the previously knitting (or old) loops; these old loops encircle the stems of the needles and as the needles are retracted to draw new loops through them they engage the open latches and cause the latter to close on the newly fed yarn. In some instances it is desirable to retard the closure of the latches and for this purpose what is known as latchretarding mechanism is employed. For example, it is desirable to retard the closure of the latches when plating is being effected, otherwise the latches, being closed by the old loops, would disturb the plating relationship of the yarns. It has also been found desirable to retard the closure of the latches in opposed needle cylinder machines when knitting one-and-one rib fabric. Otherwise, as the plain and rib needles are retracted in opposite directions, their closing latches would exercise a scissoring action on the yarn with the result that the fabric would have a somewhat hairy appearance. In such machines the degree of retard for plating, half-round splicing, and the like (and for broad rib), is substantially less than that which is necessary for knitting one-and-one rib. Were the same degree of retard employed for half round splicings etc., as in one-and-one rib the result would be that the plain cylinder needles would be retracted to such an extent, before the latches close, that it would be difficult to feed the splicing thread vwith suiicient degree of reliability.

The present invention seeks to overcome or to minimise these various difficulties and it therefore provides in or for a latch needle knitting machine (and especially an opposed needle cylinder machine), latch-retarding mechanism comprising a latch-engaging member, and means for shifting it while the machine is running to control its action. Specically, there may be means for shifting it between a plurality of operative positions giving different degrees of retard. Thus, a considerable degree of retard may be employed for producing a band of one-and-one rib commonly found at the top of a sock or the like and, at the termination of said band (when it is desired to change over to plated work either in broad rib or in non-rib knitting) the mechanism is automaticaliy adjusted without stopping the machine to give a less degree of retard.

According to an important subsidiary feature oi the invention, means-are provided for shifting thelatch-engaging member between operative and inoperative positions while the machine is running and without interruption in the knitting process.

The latch-engaging member may be adjusted along the line of the needles (e. g. substantially circumferential of the needle circle, in the case of a circular knitting machine), or length-wise of the needles, or it may be adjusted in both directions.

The foregoing and other features of the invention are incorporated in the latch retarding mechanism which will now be described, as an example primarily intended for a circular knitting machine of the superimposed needle cylinder type, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is an elevation, taken in a plane radial to the needle-cylinder axis, showing the latch retarding mechanism and showing, in section, a. portion of the knitting machine;

Figure 2 is a view looking in the direction of the arrow II in Fig. 1;

Figures 3, 4, and 5 are plan views, showing the mechanism in positions of maximum and minimum retardand in inoperative position respectively;

Figures 6 and '7 are views on a larger scale, corresponding respectively to Figs. 3 and 4, but looking in the direction of arrow VI in Figs. l and 2;

Figure 8 is a diagram, on an enlarged scale, showing the actionof the latch-engaging member on the latches.

In the accompanying drawings, suicient oi the knitting machine itself is shown to permit it to be identified; the Aneedle cylinders are shown at I9 and i9', the needles at 3 and 3', and the sinkers at 2U.

To this machine there is applied latch-retarding mechanism according to the present invention. This mechanism comprising a latch-retarding member l which is crook-shaped, or shaped like a letter J, and is disposed outside the needle circle 2 with its shank la horizontal and tangential to a circle concentric with but of greater diameter than the needle circle. This shank extends from the hook in the direction of rotation which, as indicated by the arrow in Figs. 3 and 4, is anti-clockwise in plan as is usual inv opposed needle cylinder machines having rotating needle cylinders. The hook curves inwards towards the needle circle 2 and terminates in a flattened operative extremity lb which also points in said direction ci rotation. The said extremity lb is so disposed .that the closing' latches 3a of the plain needles 3 temporarily engage its under surface and the closing latches 3a of the rib needles 3' (when rib knitting is being effected) temporarily engage its upper surface as shown in Fig. 8. As the needle cylinders I9, I9 rotate these closing latches slide along it and are prevented from closing further until they slide oi its end. It will therefore be appreciated that all latches engage member ib seriatim and that by adjusting the shank Ia endwise the operative extremity Ib is shifted substantially circumferential of the needle circle (i. e. along the line of the needles) towards and away from the knocking-over point (the approximate location of which is indicated by the line 2| in Figs. 3 and 4) and so the degree of retard is increased or reduced. For this purpose, the shank I a is slidably mounted in a mounting block fl and is movable, in a direction opposite to that of rotation of the needle cylinders, by cam mechanism acting against a return spring I8. Additionally, however, the shank Ia is itself adjustable for length so that the mechanism may be preset by a mechanic. For this purpose the shank is telescopic and consists of a split outer sleeve 5 which is surrounded by a collar 6 provided with a clamping screw 'I so that it may be clamped on an interior member constituted by a portion of the shank.

The cam mechanism comprises a stirrup-like member 8 which embraces the block 4 and is pivoted in relation to it to rock about an axis normal to the length of the shank. One leg (shown as being the top leg) of this stirrup is formed as a cam 8a. (see particularly Figs. 6 and '7) and has the end of the shank Ia bearing against it so that as the stirrup 8 is moved on its pivot in relation to the block l the cam serves as an actuating member to move the sleeve 5 of the shank through its guides in the block 4, carrying with it the part Ib. A spring I is provided which biases the cam 8a and the stirrup 8 to one of its extreme operative positions, conveniently that position affording the maximum degree of retard. This position is shown in Figs. 3 and 6 and is iixed by an adjustable stop-screw I I which extends through the cross bar of the stirrup 8 (at one side of the stirrup axis) and is arranged to bear against the block 4. The other extreme operative position (Figs. 4 and '7) is also fixed by a second adjustable stop-screw through the cross bar to bear against the block 4 (at the other side of the stirrup axis).

The stirrup 8 is rocked in relation to the block by means of a connection I6 extending from a suitable control device (e. g. the control drum) on the machine to an anchorage 22 on the stirrup. This control device gives two stages of movements to the stirrup 8. The iirst stage rocks the stirrup 8 in relation to the block d until the last mentioned stop-screw I2 engages the block. In this movement the latch-engaging member I is shifted between its two operative positions: from a position giving maximum retard (Figs. 3 and 6 to a second position giving a lesser degree of retard (Figs. 4 and 7). Further movement causes the stirrup 8 and the block 4 to swing as one about the axis of movement of the stirrup. For this purpose, both the block and the stirrup are pivoted on a common support spindle 9, the rest position of the block being determined by an adjustment screw I3 which screws into the block and bears against an arm It protruding from said spindle 9, a spring I being provided for urging the block to this position. The spindle 9 inclines upwardly and inwardly towards the I2 extending Cai cylinder axis as best shown in Fig. 1 and therefor the said further movement of the stirrup and block not only swings the latch-retarding member I away from the cylinders but also raises it and this conjoint movement carries the latch-engaging extremity ib to an inoperative position (Fig.5).

The block 6, together with the stirrup 8, is also movable as a unit about said spindle 9 by means of further control mechanism Il connected to anchorage 23 on the block and operable by a suitable control device on the machine. Specifically, this movement is derived from the yarnchanging mechanism.

Suitable control devices capable of operating through the connections i6, I'I are well understood in the art and require no description or illustration herein.

The whole mechanismrmay be carried upon a vertical post 2li, conveniently integral with spindle 9, received in a socket 25. Adjustment of the latch-engaging member Ib, lengthwise of the needles 3, 3', may be eiected by raising or lowering this post in its socket.

It will facilitate an understanding of the invention if the operation of the aforesaid Vmechanism during the production oi a sock, of conventional form is described.

Such a sock has a reverse welt followed by a band of one-and-one rib fabric. During the pro-A duction of the welt the latch-retarding mechanism is held out of operation, by the control drum acting through connection I6, but prior to the commencement of the said band the control drum f permits the stirrup 8 and block Il to swing inwards so that the mechanism produces the maximum degree of retard (Figs. 3 and 6). throughout said band but at the end of the latter, on the change over to plated board rib or non-rib fabric the drum, operating through connection I6, moves the stirrup 8 through its rst stage so that the latch-engaging member Ib is.' shifted to reduce the degree of retard (Figs. 4 and' '7). This persists during the subsequent half f round splicing, but preparatory tothe machine going into oscillation to knit the heel, a heeling yarn is substituted for the ground, plating, and splicing yarns and this yarn change is accompanied by movement of block 4 and stirrup 8, as a unit, about the spindle 9 to render the latch-retarding mechanism completely inoperative. Because at the time this yarn change is made it is not convenient for the control drum to make a racking movement, the displacement of the latchretarding mechanism to inoperative position is effected by the yarn-changing mechanism operating through connection Il. At the end of the heel a yarn change is again made and the mechanism is reintroduced, with the aforesaid reduced degree of retard, by the yarn-changing mechanism operating through connection I'I. Like operations take place in the toe, but preparatory to the reverse welt of the next sock the control drum (acting on the stirrup through connection IG) swings the latch-retarding mechanism out of operation.

It will readily be appreciated that the shape of the member I may be modified from the crook shape shown while still achieving the same re' sults. The crook shape is advantageous in that it4 permits the member I to be made from bar material while at the same time so arranging matters that it does not interfere with the interchangeable yarn feeders commonly employed in machines of r the type under consideration andthat therotanv This persists tion vof the needle cylinders causes the closing latches to run off the end of the latch-engaging part ib. However, it will be seen that the latchengaging member will function satisfactoriiy if the crook is filled in so that said member is substantially L-shaped; both shapes have this in common, that they are cranked towards the needle circle and the main part (i. e. shank la) extends in the direction oi travel ofthe needles.

I claim:

1. In a knitting machine equipped with a line of latch needles, latch-retarding mechanism, between which mechanism and the line ci needles relative travel takes `place as the machine is in operative position, for variably retarding the closure of the latches, comprising a latch-engaging member for engagement by the4 latches in their closing movement to retard said closure, and means, adapted for operation by the machine itself, for shifting said member to and fro while the ma chine is in operation between a plurality of positions giving differing degrees of retard.

2. Apparatus according to claim l, comprising a latch-retarding member of cranked formation whereoi the cranked end is adapted to project towards the needles and constitutes the latch-engaging member aforesaid.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a latch-retarding member which is substantially J -shaped and has the end of its hook terminating in an extremity constituting the latch-engaging member, and a mounting having the shank or stem of the J-shaped member slidably mounted on it for movement of said extremity between p0- sitions giving differing degrees of retard.

4. In a knitting machine equipped with a line of latch needles, latch-retarding mechanism, between which mechanism and the line of needles relative movement lengthwise of said line takes place as the machine is in operation, for variably retarding the closure of the latches, comprising a latch-engaging member for temporary engagement by the latches in their closing movements to retard the closure of each latch so long as it is engaged by the latch, said latch travelling along said member in the aforesaid relative movement, and controllable means, adapted for automatic operation, for shifting said member, while the machine is in operation, to and fro along the needle line between positions giving diering degrees of retard.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, having means for shifting said member lengthwise of the needles while the machine is in operation.

6. In a knitting machine equipped with a line of latch needles, latch-retarding mechanism for variably retarding the closure oi the needle latches while the machine is running, between which mechanism and the line of needles relative movement lengthwise of said line takes place throughout the operation of the machine, which mechanism comprises a latch-engaging member for temporary engagement by the closing latches and for delaying the closure of each latch during travel of the latch along it in the aforesaid relative movement, a mounting on which said member is mounted for movement along the needle line to vary the degree of retard, and actuating means movable automatically in relation to the mounting for producing the movement of the latchengaging member.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, having the mounting itself pivotally mounted for bodily movement of the latch-engaging member to an inoperative position.

Lil)

`8.' In a knitting .machine equipped .with a' line of latch needles, l-'atch-retardin'g. mechanism'for variably retarding the closure of the needle latches while the machine is running, between which mechanism and the line of needles relative movementv lengthwise of said line takes place throughout the operation of the machine, which mechanism comprises` a latch-engaging member for temporary vengagement by the closing latches and for delaying vthe closure of each latch during travel ofthe latch along it in the aforesaid relativev movement, 'a' mounting on which said member is mounted for sliding movement along the needle Yline to varyv the degreefof retard, and actuating meansv movable automatically in relation to thefmounting lfor producing the sliding movement'of the latch-engaging member.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, havingthe mounting pivctally mounted for `bodily movement of the latch-engaging member to and Vfrom an inoperative position, and having the actuating means and the mounting movable about the same axis.

l0. Apparatus according to claim 8, having the mounting means pivotally mounted for bodily movement of the latch-engaging member intov and out of inoperative position, means pivotally mounting the actuating means for movement about the same axis as the mounting means to produce the sliding movement of the latch-engaging member, and having means interconnecting the actuating means and the mounting for permitting a limited movement of the actuating means in relation to the mounting for varying the degree of retard and for thereafter producing movement of the two parts in unison about their common axis to move the latch-engaging member to inoperative position.

1l. Apparatus according to claim 8, having adjustable stops between the actuating means and the mounting, at opposite sides of the axis of movement.

12. In a circular knitting machine equipped with a circle of latch needles, latch-retarding mechanism, between which and the circle of needles relative rotation takes place during the functioning of the machine, for variably retarding the closure of the latches, comprising a latchengaging member for temporary engagement seriatim by the latches in said relative rotation and for thereby delaying their closing movement, a mounting in which said member is mounted for movement substantially circumferentially of the needle circle to vary the degree of retard, and an actuating member arranged for automatic operation and movable relatively to the mounting and to the latch-engaging member to produce the substantially-circumferential movement.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, having a support on which the mounting member and the actuator are mounted for movement of the latchengaging member away from the needle circle to an inoperative position, and means for producing said movement.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12, having a support on which the mounting member is mounted for movement carrying the latch-engaging member away from the needle circle and on which the actuator is movably mounted for shifting the latch-engaging member substantially circumferentially of the needle circle, and means interconnecting the actuator and the mounting and for permitting movement of the actuator relative to the mounting to shift the latch-engaging member as aforesaid but for causing further .such movement of the mounting on its support as carries the latch-engaging member away from the needle circle.

l5. In a knitting machine equipped with a line of latch needles, latch-retarding mechanism for automatically altering the degree of retardation in the closure of the latches While the machine continues to function, between which mechanism and the line of needles relative travel takes place as the machine operates, which mechanism comprises a latch-engaging member for temporary engagement by the latches in their closing movement to retard said closure, and a movable cam for shifting the said member, while the machine continues to function, between two alternative positions giving respectively maximum and minimum degrees of retard.

16. For a latch-needle knitting machine, latchretarding mechanism for variably retarding the closure of the latches and comprising a mounting, a latch-retardng member mounted thereon for movement between positions adapted to give diiering degrees of retard, which lateh-retarding member carries a latch-engaging member for y temporary engagement by the closingr latches to delay their closure, a support having the mounting movably mounted on it for movement carry-v ing the latch-engaging member into and out of operative position, an actuating member, for moving the latch-retarding member in relation to its mounting to vary the degree of retard, mounted on the support for movement in relation to the latter, to the mounting, and to the latchretarding member, and means adapted for connection to control mechanism of the knitting machine for producing the aforesaid movements of the lateh-retarding member and of the mounting.

R/OLAND PEBERDY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,425,243 Holmes et al Aug. 5, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 408,598 Great Britain Apr. 9, 1934 

